At the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, security officers were once the only means of checking guests and their bags — until now.
The new scanners allow attendees to walk through without stopping, potentially detecting hidden weapons such as knives and guns.
The guests who arrived at the Phillips Center for the screening of “On Your Feet! The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan” on Saturday night had mixed reactions to the new Evolv Express® scanner. While some guests walked through without hesitation, others had concerns.
Laure Young, 74, said she doesn’t mind the new technology because it’s no different than any other concert or performance center she’s been to. Rather, she said security at the Phillips Center is lax compared to other locations.
“I don’t think it’s certain,” Young said. “The metal detectors always go off because of my knee. This is the first time it has failed.
Another guest, Annie Altman, 73, also said her thigh was not picked up by the sensor.
Phillips Center Director of Operations Matt Cox said he personally tested the machine’s effectiveness with metal objects.
“I can’t tell you what type of metallic composition alerts him. I can tell you it’s warning of objects of concern,” Cox, 59, said.
In an email to Cox, Evolv Technology’s customer success manager Dan Pearson said the reason the metal implants weren’t picked up was because they were made of plastics and metals not typically found in guns.
“Metal components are made of metals such as titanium or cobalt-chromium alloys. These mixtures do not resemble the weapons we are looking to find, so they do not alert,” Pearson said. “Components made of medical grade metal (typically titanium) have a different shape, size, density and character than that of a firearm, explosive and knife.”
When a guest passes through the Evolv scanner, if there is a problem item on the guest or in their bag, the scanner lights will change from green to red. The location of the item and an image of the item will be displayed on a tablet monitored by an employee.
If necessary, the guest’s bag will be checked or a wand scanner will be used to confirm where the item is on the person. If the item is not of concern, then guests may enter the building. If it is a problematic item, the guest will be asked not to bring the item inside or the on-site police will handle the situation.
Brian Jose, 61, director of performing arts at the University of Florida Phillips Center, said this increase in technology is the Center’s way of making sure their security measures are up to date.
“I think times keep changing; we have to keep changing. If we want to make sure that people feel safe and are safe, we have to keep up with the technology,” Jose said.
“I don’t think it raises people’s blood pressure,” Jose said. “Having something like Evolv that you walk straight through and can jump right into the moment was vital for me.”
Jose also said it’s important for the Phillips Center to continue to find ways to strengthen its security because, he said, “the performing arts are not immune to potential problems.”
On February 17, the Phillips Center was hosting the Florida Invitational Step Show when a University of Florida student, Jacob Park, entered with a hidden kitchen knife and threatened to hurt a particular member of the audience. He was then arrested, according to a University of Florida police report.
Although he was not using the new technology at the time, Jose said the security measures at the site were still sufficient to prevent a potential event.
Both Jose and Cox said the new technology is not a result of what happened at the Florida Invitational Step Show, as they have been looking at different technologies for about a year.
Although the Evolv technology was new to those in attendance at the Phillips Center, guests like Annie Altman said tighter security measures are needed for today’s age where guns and guns are everywhere.
“We have no choice, we need something like this,” Altman said.
